HG S2 (Intel Bot)

The Australian government has announced the selection of Japan’s upgraded Mogami-class frigate as the preferred platform for the Royal Australian Navy’s next-generation general purpose surface combatants. The decision, revealed on August 5, moves Canberra into the next stage of negotiations with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) and the Japanese government. According to the Albanese government, the […] The post Japan to supply Australia’s next-gen warships first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Electro Optic Systems (EOS), the Australia-based defense technology firm, has announced its first international order for a 100-kilowatt-class high-power laser weapon system. According to a company release issued Tuesday, a European NATO member state has placed a €71.4 million (approximately $82 million) order for the system, which will be produced at EOS’s Singapore facility and […] The post Mystery NATO customer buys Australian-made laser weapon first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Poland has signed a new contract with South Korea for the supply and local assembly of K2 and K2PL main battle tanks. Under the agreement, the modernized K2PL variant will be produced at the Bumar-Łabędy plant in Gliwice, a facility operated by the state-owned Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa (PGZ). Bumar-Łabędy last produced tanks in 2009, delivering […] The post Why Poland gave up on its own tank ambitions first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Sadly, not everyone subscribes to the Midrats Podcast, I wanted to build off part of yesterday’s podcast on the latest developments in the US Navy’s drone programs. My big takeaway is that the surface force—and the subsurface drone programs as well—are not going to (or more likely be allowed to) repeat the same mistake for our Navy and the nation made when the pointy-nosed people at NAVAIR killed the promise that was the X-47B a dozen years ago. Though my desire is for ‘more faster’, when I take a deep breath and step back, on balance, this leaves me quite happy with the plan. Joseph Trevithick over at TWZ has a great summary of the state of play. The Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) laid out requirements for three USV types under the MASC umbrella in a contracting notice earlier this week. … The Modular Surface Attack Craft (MASC) contracting notice that NAVSEA put out this week calls for three designs – a baseline version, as well as high-capacity and single-payload types – the requirements for which are all based around payload capacity, range, and speed, rather than length and/or displacement. “The desired [baseline MASC] vessel solution should carry a minimum of two forty-foot equivalent unit (FEU) containerized payloads that weigh 36.3 metric tons (MT) each and consume up to 75 kilowatts (kW) each,” the notice says. “While carrying 25 MT on the payload deck, the vessel should achieve a minimum range of 2,500 nautical miles (nmi) while maintaining at least 25 knots, at all times, in NATO Sea State 4.” …NAVSEA’s recent MASC contracting notice says. “The desired vessel solution should have the ability to carry a minimum of four (4) FEUs containerized payloads that weigh 36.3 MT each and consume up to 50 kW each. The technology solution should maximize speed and range to the extent practicable.” … The contracting notice also lays out additional “highly desired,” “strongly desired,” and “other desired” attributes that are more broadly applicable. Read Joseph’s full article for the details, but when I see the above, combined with what I know we are learning from DARPA’s USX-1 Defiant, Manta Ray, and Boeing’s XLUUV, we appear to be following the proven path of ‘build a little, test a little, learn a lot’ that gave us Aegis and other successful programs. 18-months from award to displacing water? Again, more-faster…but let’s go. Get them to the fleet. Let Strike Group Commanders ponder their utility. Let Sailors work on and with them. Let’s find out what we got right, what we got wrong, and what surprises are out there we need to fix, sooner rather than later. Do that, process the lessons, and then move quickly to Flight II by leveraging what works, leaving behind what does not. Leave a comment Share This Substack is reader-supported. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. View the full article

Pentagon’s No.1 weapons supplier Lockheed Martin and Germany’s defense giant Rheinmetall have successfully conducted the first live fire test of the Global Mobile Artillery Rocket System (GMARS), advancing a next-generation rocket launcher program designed for NATO interoperability and long-range strike capability. The test, held at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico, confirmed the system’s […] The post U.S.-German team tests GMARS rocket launcher first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Ukraine’s 28th Mechanized Brigade has developed a robotic air defense platform that combines a 4×4 unmanned ground vehicle with a shoulder-fired Igla man-portable air defense system (MANPADS), according to a report from Militarnyi. The short-range air defense unit was developed independently by the brigade’s engineering team and is already credited with a combat success. “It […] The post Ukrainian soldiers develop robotic air defense system first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

The U.S. Navy’s F/A-18 and EA-18G aircraft have surpassed 12 million cumulative flight hours, marking a milestone achievement for one of the most enduring and versatile aircraft families in American military aviation. The Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR), based at NAS Patuxent River, Maryland, announced the achievement on August 1. The milestone underscores the operational […] The post U.S. Navy F/A-18 and Growler fleet hits 12 million flight hours first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

The U.S. Navy’s Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) announced that one of its earliest CH-53K King Stallion test aircraft is being transferred to a new role in support of aviation readiness. The Engineering Demonstration Model 1 (EDM-1), formerly used for flight testing at NAS Patuxent River, is now en route to the Center for Naval […] The post Retired CH-53K joins maintenance training program first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

The Australian Army is moving closer to fielding its new AH-64E Apache attack helicopters, with the first four units currently in final assembly at Boeing’s production facility in Mesa, Arizona. The helicopters are part of a broader acquisition program that will see 29 Apaches delivered to Australia, replacing the Army’s aging fleet of Eurocopter Tiger […] The post Australia prepares to receive first Apache gunships first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Germany’s Bundeswehr has commissioned Rheinmetall to deliver more than 1,000 new logistics vehicles under a procurement package valued at approximately €770 million ($891million). According to a company statement, the order includes 963 swap-body trucks—some equipped with protected driver cabins—and an additional 425 unprotected transport vehicles (UTVs) in both 4×4 and 8×8 configurations. In total, the […] The post Germany orders around 1,400 military trucks from Rheinmetall first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Slovakia-based defense manufacturer DefTech has released a new image of its Wolf 25 AD counter-drone combat vehicle, positioning the platform as a critical solution for today’s fast-evolving air threat environment. The company said the system has already completed successful trials and is currently deployed in Ukraine, where it continues to receive positive operational feedback. In […] The post DefTech releases new image of its drone hunter vehicle first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) confirmed Monday that its special operations unit “A” conducted a drone strike on the Russian-occupied Saky military airfield in Crimea overnight, damaging and destroying multiple combat aircraft and a stockpile of aviation munitions. According to an official statement released on August 4, unmanned aerial vehicles operated by the SBU successfully penetrated […] The post Ukrainian strike destroys Russian fighter jet first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

A new image circulating on Chinese social media appears to show another next-generation combat aircraft undergoing flight testing—marking the third such design spotted in recent months, and underscoring China’s rapid expansion of its advanced airpower programs. The photo, which lacks a confirmed location or timestamp, shows a sharp-edged delta-wing aircraft with a distinct elongated nose […] The post New Chinese stealth aircraft spotted in test flight first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Shield AI is expanding its presence in Ukraine, where its autonomous systems are being tested under live combat conditions. In a recent message, James Lythgoe, Shield AI’s Ukraine managing director and a former U.K. Royal Marin, outlined the company’s efforts to support Ukrainian forces through on-the-ground operations, combat-driven innovation, and close cooperation with frontline units. […] The post Shield AI expands frontline role in Ukraine first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

South Korea’s military is under investigation over allegations that armed Apache helicopters conducted provocative flight operations near the Northern Limit Line (NLL) last year, accompanied by false radio transmissions suggesting imminent strikes on North Korean territory. The operations, reportedly ordered by higher command, are now part of a broader probe into whether Seoul sought to […] The post Seoul accused of using Apache helicopters to provoke North Korea first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

The United Arab Emirates is reportedly supplying Chinese-made FK-2000 short-range air defense systems to Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) via Chad, according to a report published Sunday by Clash Report. The FK-2000, developed by China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation (CASIC), is designed to counter a variety of aerial threats, including fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, cruise […] The post UAE sends Chinese air defense systems to Sudan’s RSF first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Despite acquiring hundreds of M1 Abrams main battle tanks over the past two years, Poland currently lacks the infrastructure to maintain the fleet’s gas turbine engines—a critical shortfall that defense officials now acknowledge was not fully addressed during the procurement process. In an interview with Gazeta Prawna, Dr. Jacek Goszczyński, Director of Military Aviation Plant […] The post Poland faces Abrams engine maintenance gap first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

It’s time to catch up on the latest issues on the maritime and national security front and get out of the summer heat. Midrats goes LIVE today at 5pm Eastern in our free-for-all format. Hop in the show chat room and offer your topics and question…or observations of the topics we’ll discuss. You can join live at this link, but if you are reading this after the show, just check this Substack post later Sunday when I’ll update this page with the podcast. COME JOIN US! Leave a comment Share This Substack is reader-supported. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. View the full article

New images of the USS Michael Monsoor (DDG 1001), a Zumwalt-class guided-missile destroyer, have reignited scrutiny across social media over the operational condition and long-term viability of the U.S. Navy’s most advanced surface combatant. Photos taken during a recent port visit to Commander, Fleet Activities Yokosuka in Japan show extensive discoloration, corrosion streaks, and visible […] The post U.S. stealth destroyer’s condition shocks social media first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

South Korea’s domestically developed KF-21 Boramae is emerging as a potential candidate for India’s Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) program, as New Delhi looks to address ongoing gaps in its combat air fleet. According to Indian defense media reports published on August 1, the KF-21 is being evaluated amid growing interest from the Indian Air Force […] The post India may buy South Korea’s KF-21 fighter jet first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

South Korea’s Army has conducted a live demonstration of an airborne FPV kamikaze drone launch from a KUH-1 Surion helicopter, testing its ability to intercept aerial targets in flight. The drill involved ejecting an FPV (First-Person View) drone, equipped with a live explosive charge, from a Surion utility helicopter. Once airborne, the drone was remotely […] The post South Korea tests kamikaze drone launch from helicopter first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

The Pakistan Army has formally inducted its first batch of Chinese-made Z-10ME attack helicopters during a ceremony held at the Multan Army Aviation Base. Chief of Army Staff General Syed Asim Munir oversaw the ceremony and personally inspected one of the newly delivered helicopters. During the event, he was seen warmly greeting Chinese personnel involved […] The post Pakistan inducts Chinese-made Z-10ME attack helicopters first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

The U.S. Army has awarded BAE Systems a $139.6 million contract modification for continued production of the Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle (AMPV), a key platform replacing aging M113s across Armored Brigade Combat Teams. The award, announced under contract W56HZV-23-C-0024, brings the total value of the AMPV program to over $2.28 billion. According to the Department of […] The post U.S. Army buys more AMPV tracked vehicles first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

The U.S. Army has awarded software firm Palantir a $10 billion enterprise agreement aimed at consolidating and expanding its role across multiple defense programs involving artificial intelligence, data integration, and digital battlefield systems. The firm-fixed-price contract was issued on July 31 by Army Contracting Command at Rock Island Arsenal, Illinois, under solicitation number W519TC-25-D-0039. The […] The post Palantir wins $10B U.S. Army AI contract first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

The Pentagon has awarded Lockheed Martin a $9.5 billion contract to increase production of its AGM-158 series of long-range missiles. According to a company statement issued on July 31, the contract supports increased deliveries of both the Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM) and the Long Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM), two of the U.S. military’s most […] The post Pentagon awards $9.5B to Lockheed for long-range missiles first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article